Dr. Dre, the legendary rapper and producer, has opened up about his past history of assault and abuse towards women, admitting that he “was out of [his] f–king mind.”
The discussion comes as part of a new HBO docu-series titled The Defiant Ones, which chronicles the lives of Dr. Dre and label owner Jimmy Iovine.
In the series, Dr. Dre addresses the violent assault of former television host Dee Barnes, which took place in 1991 and was detailed in a Rolling Stone article at the time.
Barnes stated in the article that Dr. Dre “began slamming her face and the right side of her body repeatedly against a wall near the stairway,” before attempting to throw her down the stairs, kicking her in the ribs and hands, and punching her in the back of the head.
Dre and his bodyguard then fled the building, and his N.W.A. bandmates Ren and Eazy-E both defended his actions at the time, with Eazy-E stating that Barnes “had it coming.”
This incident, along with other incidents of violent assault towards women, was excluded from the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton, which prompted Dre’s ex Michel’le to detail further abuse.
She referred to herself as “just a quiet girlfriend who got beat on and told to sit down and shut up,” and labelled Dre’s subsequent apologies as “insincere.”
In The Defiant Ones, Dre acknowledges his past actions and takes responsibility for them, stating that “any man that puts his hands on a female is a f–king idiot.”
He goes on to say, “I f–ked up, I paid for it, I’m sorry for it, I apologize for it.”
He also expresses regret for the “dark cloud” that follows him as a result of his past behavior, calling it a “major blemish” on his character.
Dr. Dre’s admission of guilt and responsibility comes amid a larger cultural reckoning with sexual assault and violence towards women, particularly in the entertainment industry.
The #MeToo movement, which gained prominence in 2017, has led to the downfall of numerous powerful men accused of sexual misconduct, including Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and R. Kelly.
The movement has also led to a larger conversation about the pervasiveness of sexual assault and harassment in all areas of society.
In recent years, Dr. Dre has faced criticism for his past actions, particularly in light of his continued success and influence in the music industry.
Some have called for a boycott of his work, while others have questioned the sincerity of his apologies.
However, his willingness to address his past behavior in The Defiant Ones may be seen as a step in the right direction towards accountability and redemption.
It is worth noting that Dr. Dre has also been involved in philanthropic efforts in recent years, particularly in the area of music education.
In 2013, he and music mogul Jimmy Iovine donated $70 million to create the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology, and the Business of Innovation.
The school focuses on interdisciplinary education in fields such as music, design, and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Dre’s discussion of his past history of assault and abuse towards women is a significant moment in his career and in the larger conversation around sexual assault and harassment.
His admission of guilt and responsibility may be seen as a step towards accountability and redemption, and it is worth noting his philanthropic efforts in recent years.
However, the conversation around sexual assault and harassment must continue, and perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions.
